They compared rings...and we were ALL embarrassed!

[princesss]

Gosh, how awful, Whitby. At least your neice has her head screwed on straight and realizes the commitment is the important part - though it doesn't make her disappointment any less real and heartbreaking.

 

[trillionaire]

You know, it's tough. It's hard to get good knowledge about diamonds, because the average store just wants your money, and people are more interested in size than quality... they really have not idea what they are sacrificing, especially with those darn maul store sparkly lights.

I honestly don't even ask people about their rings any more, because I am newly engaged and people always want to compare. I've never NOT experienced an awkward moment... people always compare style, or size or sparkliness, and I just feel uncomfortable. Most people I know have a solitaire diamond in a princess cut (which years ago was all I ever dreamed of!), so my ornate split-shank with surprise diamonds and a trillion center tends to garner a lot of attention.

I'm so so sorry for your niece, I can only imagine the embarrassment and disappointment she felt.

It's really tough when you really had no idea you were being taken advantage of, and you were happy and content, only to have the rug snatched from under you! But congrats to her friend for owning such a lovely diamond! An eye clean I1 is a rare deal indeed!

 

[TravelingGal]

That''s too bad Whitby, especially since I''ve seen what''s in general mall stores over there...it was scarier than the stuff I''ve seen here.

 

[Smurfysmiles]

I'm glad she knows there are worse things in the world than a less than perfect diamond and that the marriage is the part that counts.

 

[lilyfoot]

Date: 2/1/2010 12:47:44 PM
Author: Smurfyimproved
I''m glad she knows there are worse things in the world than a less than perfect diamond and that the marriage is the part that counts.

I agree, but what really bums me out about these situations is the money that was "wasted" .. I hate to see money go to waste!

 

[Liane]

Oof, that''s rough. Comparing rings so rarely* goes well.

Loved the slow-mo disaster moment comparison, though. I know exactly what you mean.

At least you tried to help, and were gracious in the situation. What more can anyone do?


(* -- I would have said "never," but that''s not true. At my workplace, many of the women are recently engaged or newly married, and so far everyone has gotten a truly beautiful ring. Since there''s an amazing variety of shapes in the group and it''s a level-headed bunch of women, comparisons are not about one being in "competition" with another and more just about seeing how the different cuts perform in real life, which is a lot of fun and hasn''t caused any bruised feelings that I''ve noticed so far.

This is, however, the only situation I''ve ever been in where it hasn''t immediately turned into a disaster zone.)

 

[Diamond*Dana]

You tried, there is nothing more you can do. That is too bad that your niece was embarrassed...hopefully she still loves it no matter what!

 

[whitby_2773]

thanks for the understanding, ladies. I absolutely love E, and being disappointed by her engagement ring is NOT something i would have wished for her. i think she was a true victim of 'shop lighting'; that stuff is diabolical!

however, out of the ashes....

comes a new pair of earrings! while i was with her on the weekend, i asked her what earrings she'd wear, and she said she had none chosen. she told me the sort of thing she'd like, and i said "leave it with me - this will be my gift to you."

E's birthstone is diamond (lucky girl!), and mine is pearl. so i've contacted pearl paradise and they're going to ship a pair of pearls over to Brian Gavin Diamonds, who are going to set them with a few diamonds, and in a few weeks i'm hoping to give her a pair of....

these.... (tho rather better quality and definitely better made!)....

 

[whitby_2773]

these are 8mm pearls, with 3 x .05ct in a clover leaf design beneath each pearl. (these are not BGD - this is just an inspiration pic)

 

[yssie]

Beautiful!!



You''re such a sweet aunt, and I reckon she''s learnt whom to trust with jewellery from now on!

 

[SpareMyWallet]

Date: 2/2/2010 3:27:47 AM
Author: yssie
Beautiful!!



You''re such a sweet aunt, and I reckon she''s learnt whom to trust with jewellery from now on!

ditto. that is really loving of you

 

[Arkteia]

I just wanted to say, I wish your niece health and happiness in marriage. She may probably "upgrade" her ring later. Buying gems in Australia, though, can be a major ripoff - being there, done that. Otherwise, wonderful country.

 

[trillionaire]

Date: 2/2/2010 3:11:26 AM
Author: whitby_2773
these are 8mm pearls, with 3 x .05ct in a clover leaf design beneath each pearl. (these are not BGD - this is just an inspiration pic)

Such a beautiful and thoughful gift! That would make me cry!!!

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Those are beautiful earrings. You''re a sweetie, Whitby!

 

[rosetta]

i like the way you tell a story whitby!

at the end of the day, the ring is just symbolic.

they got ripped off, but so do 99% of the population because they don''t know any better (we were all one of those people once!)

they got caught up in the romance of buying the ring, and if it was up to my other half, we would be doing the same as well (man almost got convinced into blowing $12000 on a 0.9ct EVS1 round by a B&M SA!! this is in the UK, so this price would be considered a super bargain by most people

)

the earrings are beautiful and will sparkle a lot!

 

[Hest88]

I want an Aunt Whitby!

I''m sorry your niece felt badly about her ring, but no doubt she loves it anyway now that the initial shock has passed. (Um, and princesses aren''t as bright as RBs right?

)

The earrings will be gorgeous. I''m really tempted to get something like that for myself!

 

[LostSapphire]

ADOPTION NOTICE

Available to a good home (preferably Whitby''s):

One little lonely lost sapphire.

Comes with her own bling.

Comes with her own meds

Tries not to whine too much.

Has 3 furkids of her own.

LS

 

[risingsun]

Date: 2/2/2010 4:10:39 PM
Author: LostSapphire
ADOPTION NOTICE

Available to a good home (preferably Whitby''s):

One little lonely lost sapphire.

Comes with her own bling.

Comes with her own meds

Tries not to whine too much.

Has 3 furkids of her own.

LS

For shame, LS

You beat me to it

 

[that_someone_special]

Wow what a sweet Auntie you are!

Make sure she knows how to care for the pearls too....

 

[LostSapphire]

Date: 2/2/2010 4:17:01 PM
Author: risingsun

Date: 2/2/2010 4:10:39 PM
Author: LostSapphire
ADOPTION NOTICE

Available to a good home (preferably Whitby''s):

One little lonely lost sapphire.

Comes with her own bling.

Comes with her own meds

Tries not to whine too much.

Has 3 furkids of her own.

LS

For shame, LS

You beat me to it

Marian, if she adopted both of us, just think of the meds she''d get.

LS

 

[whitby_2773]

Date: 2/2/2010 4:17:01 PM
Author: risingsun

Date: 2/2/2010 4:10:39 PM

Author: LostSapphire

ADOPTION NOTICE



Available to a good home (preferably Whitby''s):


One little lonely lost sapphire.


Comes with her own bling.


Comes with her own meds

Tries not to whine too much.


Has 3 furkids of her own.


LS

For shame, LS

You beat me to it

laughingggggggg....

out LOUD!

well, i have a lovely guest bedroom, with it''s own private sitting room, and i''d do it in a heartbeat.....

cats would be welcome, of course, but it''d extend their longevity if they were *nimble*!

(you guys give more than you get, y''know. thanks for making me chuckle)

xo

 

[LostSapphire]

Date: 2/2/2010 5:29:49 PM
Author: whitby_2773

Date: 2/2/2010 4:17:01 PM
Author: risingsun

Date: 2/2/2010 4:10:39 PM

Author: LostSapphire

ADOPTION NOTICE



Available to a good home (preferably Whitby''s):


One little lonely lost sapphire.


Comes with her own bling.


Comes with her own meds

Tries not to whine too much.


Has 3 furkids of her own.


LS

For shame, LS

You beat me to it

laughingggggggg....

out LOUD!

well, i have a lovely guest bedroom, with it''s own private sitting room, and i''d do it in a heartbeat.....

cats would be welcome, of course, but it''d extend their longevity if they were *nimble*!

(you guys give more than you get, y''know. thanks for making me chuckle)

xo

Marian: I''m in, how ''bout you?

Whitby: my furkids are small little Cairn Terrorists, not cats. They are very nimble, in fact, their forte is catching rodents...so *almost* like cats, I guess, in a pinch.

Does this adoption agreement include a flight to OZ?

LS

 

[LostSapphire]

p.s.:

Here's the kids: see, they're just tiny. All 3 of them fit on the bed!
LS

 

[whitby_2773]

lol - they''re adorable! ''cairn terrorists'' - love it! and they''d be more than welcome - tho not to australia; they''d get stuck in quarantine for 6 months, which i suspect they would *hate*.

dixon would think they were squeakie toys! he''s very gentle with little dogs and would NOT understand if they growled at him!

poppy would growl half heartedly...then run and hide behind her mommy - all while wagging her tail frantically.

dapple would look at them sadly (ie more things to disrupt her peace), then go and curl up on my bed.

here''s a photo of dixon the evening i told him i was going to australia. i called it ''not impressed''...

 

[LostSapphire]

"Oh Dixon. Don''t pine. She''ll be back soon with biscuits (Anzac!)"

LS

 

[risingsun]

Date: 2/2/2010 7:31:20 PM
Author: LostSapphire

Date: 2/2/2010 5:29:49 PM
Author: whitby_2773

Date: 2/2/2010 4:17:01 PM
Author: risingsun

Date: 2/2/2010 4:10:39 PM

Author: LostSapphire

ADOPTION NOTICE



Available to a good home (preferably Whitby''s):


One little lonely lost sapphire.


Comes with her own bling.


Comes with her own meds

Tries not to whine too much.


Has 3 furkids of her own.


LS

For shame, LS

You beat me to it

laughingggggggg....

out LOUD!

well, i have a lovely guest bedroom, with it''s own private sitting room, and i''d do it in a heartbeat.....

cats would be welcome, of course, but it''d extend their longevity if they were *nimble*!

(you guys give more than you get, y''know. thanks for making me chuckle)

xo

Marian: I''m in, how ''bout you?

Whitby: my furkids are small little Cairn Terrorists, not cats. They are very nimble, in fact, their forte is catching rodents...so *almost* like cats, I guess, in a pinch.

Does this adoption agreement include a flight to OZ?

LS

We''re in!!!

 

[laurenfischer5]

Thank goodness for PRICESCOPE!

 

[laurenfischer5]

I just did a pricescope diamond search and a .75 princess D IF came out at $4854 - Im not sure about cut though..

 

[Dreamer_D]

Oh, your poor niece!

This story just reminds me of how little people out there generally know about diamonds. And that is so puzzling to me, because most people will actually buy a diamond at one point in their lives! And they are expensive! How can people plop down thousands of dollars without trying to learn anything about it before they buy?

But then this brings me to my second observation, which is that people not only don''t know much about diamonds, but they think that there isn''t much *to* know. They are ignorant of their ignorance. And never see a well cut diamond unless they are unfortunate enough to run into a PSer at a party and "compare rings"

 

[whitby_2773]

Date: 2/3/2010 2:51:38 AM
Author: dreamer_dachsie
Oh, your poor niece!


This story just reminds me of how little people out there generally know about diamonds. And that is so puzzling to me, because most people will actually buy a diamond at one point in their lives! And they are expensive! How can people plop down thousands of dollars without trying to learn anything about it before they buy?


But then this brings me to my second observation, which is that people not only don''t know much about diamonds, but they think that there isn''t much *to* know. They are ignorant of their ignorance. And never see a well cut diamond unless they are unfortunate enough to run into a PSer at a party and ''compare rings''

and i think that hits the nail on the head, dreamer. that''s it exactly.